In a historic first in Saint Louis University’s 115 years as a Catholic institution and 54 years as a parish, SLU, through its St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish, hosted the Presbyteral Ordination of Rev. John Ervin M. Felix, CICM and Rev. Mark Joseph L. Inaldo, CICM, in keeping with its identity as a Catholic institution and its commitment to nurturing faith and vocation.
Held on 14 August 2026 at the Prince Bernhard Gym, SLU Main Campus, the ordination rites took place during the Eucharistic Celebration presided by the Bishop of the Diocese of Sendai, Japan, Most Rev. Edgar C. Gacutan, CICM, DD, together with the Bishop of Cabanatuan Most Rev. Prudencio “Jun” P. Andaya, Jr., CICM, DD; Bishop of Baguio City, Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz, D.D.; and other Diocese of Baguio and CICM confreres led by Vice Provincial of the Philippines, Rev. Fr. Michael Melanio Reyes, and SLU President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM.
The celebration, attended by the clergy, ordinands’ families and friends, and SLU community, was held after the Profession of Faith and solemn Oath of Fidelity by Rev. Felix and Rev. Inaldo, a significant step to the ordination where they pledged to be faithful to the ministry of priesthood.
Formally opening the solemnity, SLU Vice President for Mission and Identity, Rev. Fr. Emery Ebumea Mwako, CICM said, “It is my joy to welcome all of you to this beautiful celebration of the Eucharist at which two of our CICM members will be ordained…Saint Louis University is honored to host an ordination. Thank you for choosing us. We hope that this celebration will open the door to more vocations and future ordinations.”
Proceeding with the Rite of Ordination, the Election of the Candidate to the Presbyterate commenced where candidates are seated with their families and are called forward by the deacon, symbolizing that their families give them to the Church for service of God’s people. In acknowledgment, the Presentation of the Candidate to the Presbyterate took place before the Election by the Bishop and the Consent of the People.
In his homily, Bishop Gacutan said, “An ordination is always a joyous occasion and today’s ordination is even more so for me for many reasons. This is the first time I preside over an ordination in the Philippines. Deacon John and Deacon Mark had asked that I be their ordaining bishop. Here’s the reason: In September 2016, while on vacation in Cagayan, Mark, then 27, visited me. I was the first priest he talked to about the calling he felt.” Bishop Gacutan then introduced the CICM to him and ten years later he ordained them. He shared that the joy he felt in that moment was much like the joy of a father giving away a son, and, in this case, a son’s best friend as well. He also noted the significance of the venue itself, which was the same stage where he had once received his own Bachelor of Arts diploma, on 25 March 1985, making it fitting that his alma mater was now hosting the ordination.
“What makes someone a priest? What makes someone a brother, a sister, a christian?,” Bishop Gacutan asked. To this he said, “It’s being captivated by the Lord Jesus and deciding to follow Him and to tell the world of His love – the true present of God to the world. CICM confreres, may you grow in the love of Christ. May our initials ‘CICM” be known for ‘C’ collaboration, because we compliment each other’s gift and..it is for creative ideas and not entitlements. ‘I’, integrity. Our life speaks for our core beliefs. ‘C’, commitment. We remain where we are sent to, confident of God’s protection and our brothers’ support. We make each other great. We make each other important. May CICM be known as Christ-inspired carers for the marginalized. CICM and christians for that matter are ‘M’, motivators, making people feel loved, sharing God’s mercy.”
After the homily, the Promise of the Elect to the Presbyterate followed, in which Rev. Felix and Rev. Inaldo knelt before the bishop and placed their hands within his, formally declaring before the people their intention to undertake the office of priesthood. The Promise of Obedience by the ordinands further solidified the covenant.
In humility, the two candidates lay face down on the floor during the Litany of Supplication, a gesture symbolizing their submission to the will of God and their desire to serve the Church.
An acceptance to the priesthood, the Laying on of Hands was done beginning with the Bishops until the CICM confreres. In solemnity and silence, the biblical gesture imparts the Holy Spirit while symbolizing the brotherhood that is shared in priesthood. Bishop Gacutan then prayed the Prayer of Ordination: “Grant, we pray, Almighty Father, to these your servants, the dignity of the Priesthood; renew deep within them the Spirit of holiness; may they henceforth possess this office which comes from You, O God, and is next in rank to the office of Bishop; and by the example of their manner of life, may they instill right conduct. May they be worthy co-workers with our Order, so that by their preaching and through the grace of the Holy Spirit the words of the Gospel may bear fruit in human hearts and reach even to the ends of the earth. Together with us, may they be a faithful steward of Your mysteries, so that Your people may be renewed in the waters of rebirth and nourished from Your altar; so that sinners may be reconciled and the sick raised up. May they be joined with us, Lord, in imploring Your mercy for the people entrusted to their care and for all the world. And so may the full number of the nations, gathered together in Christ, be transformed into Your one people and made perfect in Your Kingdom.”
Continuing on with the solemnity was the Investiture with Stole and Chasuble. The ordinands wore the priestly vestments brought forward by the family members. The Anointing of Hands followed after where newly ordained priests’ hands were anointed to consecrate them for the purpose of bringing the sacraments to the people that the new priests will serve. During the Presentation of Bread and Wine, the parents of the newly ordained present to the Bishop the paten with bread and the chalice with wine. The Bishop placed these in the hands of the newly ordained priests as they kneel before him. “Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross,” Bishop Gacutan proclaimed. The Rite of Ordination then ended with the fraternal Kiss of Peace.
Putting a close to the Eucharistic Celebration was the reading of the Certificates of Ordination, the message of gratitude by Rev. Felix and the response by Fr. Reyes, CICM.
“It is deeply significant that we celebrate this ordination here at SLU, because SLU is one of the enduring fruits of CICM presence in the Philippines… Today, we witness another fruit of that missionary legacy — the ordination of Mark and John Irwin. There was a time when we were a receiving Church; today, we have transitioned to a sending Church. Even as we continue to receive missionaries, the gospel we have received is now being carried out by our own — Mark to Indonesia and John to the Dominican Republic,” Fr. Reyes said. He went on to say that God’s call opens a greater horizon and prayed that the priesthood of Rev. Felix and Rev. Inaldo be a joyful gift to God, to the Church, and to the people entrusted to their care. “Your joy is our joy, and your mission is our mission. May your priesthood be a gift freely offered in following Jesus. We rejoice with you — go with joy,” Fr. Reyes further encouraged.
After the mass, a short program and luncheon followed at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building.
Ordination, also known as “Holy Orders, confers on the recipient an indelible mark, being set apart to serve the people of God. As those called who act in persona Christi Capitis, or “In the person of Christ the head,” an ordained priest acts as a representative of Jesus Christ when leading the Church and performing the sacraments.
For the Louisian community, this historic celebration was a moment of profound gratitude. The University rejoices with Rev. Felix, Rev. Inaldo, and their families, friends, and formators, whose prayers and support helped nurture their vocation.
May their priestly ministry inspire the entire CICM community to deepen its faith, discern God’s call, and serve others with generous and Christ-centered hearts, steadfast in Cor Unum et Anima Una – One Heart and One Soul.
